Inflatable noisemaker

ABSTRACT

An inflatable noisemaker has a flexible envelope and a multiplicity of pellets contained within the envelope. The pellets can be made of wood, glass, plastic, metal, dry beans or dry peas and are free to bounce around in response to an impact on the envelope and the envelope is constructed to be grasped manually and to enclose a gas under pressure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to inflatable noisemakers and more particularly to novel and highly effective inflatable noisemakers capable of producing a noise level that is readily adjustable over a wide range including a level higher than any that can be attained by similar noisemakers of the prior art.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] The inflatable noisemaker originated in Israel in the later 1980's as a single self-sealing extruded polyethylene tube 48″ in length and 4″ in diameter (48″ L×4″ D) that was folded in the middle to enable a user to hold each upper half in one hand and hit the two halves against each other to create a loud noise. South Korean manufacturers popularized the Israeli concept in the early 1990's by substituting two separate tubes approximately each half the length of the Israeli tube. That is, each tube measured 24″ L×4″ D. This facilitated the hitting and made the product less cumbersome. An expatriate American working for one of the South Korean tube manufacturers subsequently manufactured them in Beijing and sold them in Japan and the U.S., where an Illinois-based manufacturer of inflatables adapted the basic concept to a two-piece heat-sealed tube with an integral self-seal valve.

[0005] Both the Beijing and U.S. tubes had modest initial success and greater success at the 2002 World Series. Their success notwithstanding, these prior types of so-called “baton bangers” suffer from disadvantages: while their two-foot length and four-inch diameter provide an air chamber of sufficient resonance, they are awkward to manipulate, obstruct the view of nearby spectators, and are difficult to store at the seat or transport without deflating. Their size also translates into relatively high material, storage and shipping costs. Another disadvantage is that the necessary large air chamber precludes shapes with smaller air chambers and/or other shapes than tubular; nor is it possible to create a loud noise by hitting only a single tube against an object other than another tube (e.g. by hitting a single tube against a hand, arm or railing).

[0006]FIG. 1 shows the extruded tubes that originated in Israel. FIG. 2 shows the two extruded tubes that originated in S. Korea. FIG. 3 shows the tube made in the U.S.A. of two webs with an integrated self-seal valve.

[0007] Such prior types of inflatable noisemakers are cumbersome, difficult to manipulate without hitting, and/or obstructing the view of, nearby spectators and awkward to align for maximum contact and acceleration for optimal sound effects. Finally, no matter how they are manufactured, the tube size necessary to obtain the air chamber turbulence and resultant sound add undesirable costs to the manufacturing and commercializing process.

[0008] Prior types also lack a simple, inexpensive means of adjusting and/or calibrating the decibel level of an existing inflatable form to meet local government, school association or sports league ordinances and regulations. Thus, for different mandated maximum sound levels, there must be new sizes and/or shapes requiring new molds with resultant monetary and time costs.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An object of the invention is to remedy the problems of the prior art outlined above. In particular, an object of the invention is to provide an inflatable noisemaker that, with a smaller air chamber, can equal or exceed the decibel level of the prior art, thus permitting smaller and/or alternative shapes.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to significantly reduce the cost the entire commercialization process. A further object is to facilitate the use of alternative films such as vinyl, nylon (a polyamide) and Mylar® (a polymer). (Mylar is a registered trade mark of E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co.)

[0011] A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable noisemaker that is easy to grip and manipulate, inexpensive to manufacture and adaptable to a great variety of sizes and shapes.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical means of calibrating or changing the decibel level without a new mold.

[0013] The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained by providing an inflatable noisemaker comprising a flexible envelope and a multiplicity of pellets contained within the envelope, wherein the pellets are free to rebound and reverberate in response to an impact on the envelope and the envelope is constructed to be grasped manually and to enclose a gas under pressure.

[0014] Preferably, the flexible envelope contains a significant quantity of small, relatively unbreakable hard objects with no sharp or rough edges or uneven surfaces. Plastic, metal, wood, glass, ceramic materials and even uncooked rice, peas or beans may also be used.

[0015] The small, round objects, hereinafter referred to as pellets have a diameter ranging from three mm to five mm. The number of pellets per unit volume of air space depends on the dB level required.

[0016] The noisemaker is preferably made of an unstretchable material, such as polyethylene (high or low density or a blend of both), nylon, or nylon/polylaminate. It is intended for sale to consumers or to businesses for use as premiums/ad specialties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] A better understanding of the objects, features and advantages of the invention can be gained from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

[0018] FIGS. 1-3 are perspective views of several inflatable noisemakers constructed in accordance with the prior art;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a first embodiment of inflatable tubes with a number of pellets that raise the decibel level when the two are banged together;

[0020]FIG. 4a is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing the use of only one such tube, which is banged against a hand, rail or wall;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a smaller embodiment of the invention; and

[0022]FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of another embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] In FIG. 1, the extruded tube is folded in the middle and produces noise by clapping the two halves against one another as indicated by the arrows. The two halves are connected at the bottom. In FIG. 2, the tubes have inserted self-seal valves and are not connected at the bottom, and each can be swung independently of the other. To produce noise, they are banged together. The tubes of FIG. 3, which have integral valves and are made of two sheets heat sealed together, operate in the same way as those of FIG. 2.

[0024] The tubes 10, 12 of FIG. 4 are 24″ in length and 4″ in diameter. Each tube contains pellets P, represented schematically. When they ate banged together, they produce more noise than tubes of the prior art that are of the same size, same inflation pressure, same tube material, etc., but that lack the pellets.

[0025] The single tube 14 of FIG. 4a is like either of the tubes of FIG. 4 but is operated by banging it against a hand, rail, etc. The noise level from that operation is not as loud as the noise level produced by banging two such tubes together but is greater than the noise level produced by two tubes of the prior art.

[0026] The tubes 16, 18 of FIG. 5 are similar to those of FIG. 4 but of reduced size. They produce less noise than the tubes of FIG. 4 but more noise than 24-inch tubes of the prior art.

[0027] The noisemaker 20 of FIG. 6 is in the shape of a round balloon. In one preferred size, it has a diameter of 8 inches and has a handle with a length of about 5 inches and width of about 1.5 inches. The thickness of the balloon of FIG. 6 in a direction normal to the plane of the figure is considerably less than 8 inches, so that the balloon is substantially flattened. Since it contains pellets, it makes a noise disproportionate to its size, whether banged together with a similar noisemaker, with another noisemaker constructed in accordance with the invention, or with a hand, rail, etc.

[0028] Banging the two air chambers/batons together in the upper portion of the tube/chamber sets the air in motion to create sound waves and puts the air columns into resonance. At the same time, it bounces the pellets in the chamber to add more impact surface area; agitates more air space and thus increases the resonance to a higher decibel level, while also increasing the frequency response to cause a higher, sharper tone. Banging empty baton/air chambers creates sound waves. Adding pellets triggers additional/different sound waves. Also, the sound waves from the bouncing pellets add another resonating tone and increases decibel levels.

[0029] The present invention is sharply distinguished from baby rattles and musical maracas, which depend on the pellets hitting the hard “shell” to produce noise.

[0030] The inflatable noisemaker can be formed as an extruded tube (or other shape) or two overlying conterminous panels of substantially unstretchable flexible film having their edges sealed together. In either case, an inflatable main body of tubular or other shape is formed enclosing an interior space. An inflation port is formed in an end of the main body with an extension communicating a fluid to the interior space, and a seal seals the inflation port. A level of air pressure inside the chamber is created by mouth or pump. The inflation pressure is preferably at least 0.10-0.15 p.s.i.g., depending on the type and gauge of the film as well as its size and shape of the air chamber.

[0031] The tension of the film (not to exceed a level that would burst the film and/or open its seals) is an important factor, since the tighter the film, the higher the frequency of the sound waves. A number of small (three to five mm diameter) round, solid pellets, that do not have a sharp or rough surface that could cut or puncture plastic film are contained within the air chamber. The pellets are made of plastic, ceramic, wood, metal or “near-round” natural objects such as grains of rice or dry beans. The pellets are inserted into the uninflated chamber during the manufacturing process. In one embodiment, the pellets have a specific gravity of 2.25 and are made of glass. They are either solid or formed with one or more cavities, indentations or through-holes. The amount/quantity of pellets is proportionate to the size and shape of the chamber to achieve the desired the decibel level of the noisemaker(s) when struck against a matching noisemaker or other surfaces. A swinging motion of the noisemaker moves the pellets up into the pellet-induced air turbulence that amplifies the decibel level.

[0032] The following table compares the decibel levels between various tubes constructed in accordance with the invention (with pellets) and tubes that are devoid of pellets but otherwise identical to the tubes constructed in accordance with the invention. TABLE DECIBEL LEVEL (dB) Number Without With of tubes Operation Size Pellets 60 Pellets 2 Tubes Bang Together 24″ L × 4″ D 90 100 1 Tube Bang on Hand 24″ L × 4″ D 65 99 2 Tubes Bang Together 12″ L × 4″ D 67 95 1 Tube Bang on Hand 12″ L × 4″ D 64 95 2 Tubes Bang Together  8″ D/5″ Handle 70 95 1 Tube Bang on Hand  8″ D/5″ Handle 64 95

[0033] The decibel meter readings are obtained in an anechoic chamber. The readings are made with an instrument having a error of ±2 dB at 114 dB SPL. In the table, the noisemakers were inflated identically and each measured twelve inches in length and four inches in diameter, except for the last two, which were flattened balloons eight inches in diameter with a five-inch handle (FIG. 6). The plastic pellets employed had a diameter of four mm.

[0034] In a separate test, a single tube measuring twelve inches in length by four inches in diameter was tested with the same plastic pellets. In this case, the number of pellets was not 60, as in the table above, but was reduced to 40, producing a decibel level when struck on the same wood table with the same force in the same anechoic room of 95. When the number of pellets was further reduced to 20, the decibel level was reduced to 80. Note that a decibel level of 95 exceeds all of the levels attainable by the tubes of the prior art represented in the table. Even a decibel level of 80 exceeds all but one. Thus a gradation of maximum noise levels is easily attained in accordance with the invention, thereby complying with possible noise limit levels set by various agencies. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An inflatable noisemaker comprising: a flexible envelope and a multiplicity of pellets contained within the envelope, wherein: the pellets are free to rebound and reverberate in response to an impact on the envelope, and the envelope is constructed to be grasped manually and to enclose a gas under pressure.
 2. An inflatable noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein the envelope is formed of a material comprising a polymer.
 3. An inflatable noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein the envelope is formed of a material comprising a polyamide.
 4. An inflatable noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein the envelope is formed of a material comprising Mylar®.
 5. An inflatable noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein the pellets are rounded.
 6. An inflatable noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein the pellets are spherical.
 7. An inflatable noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein the pellets are rigid.
 8. An inflatable noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein the decibel level can be calibrated by merely changing the number and/or type and/or size of pellets in the same air envelope/chamber.
 9. A noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein the pellets have a specific gravity greater than 1.0.
 10. A noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein the pellets have a specific gravity within the range of 2.0 to 3.0.
 11. A noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein the pellets have a specific gravity of substantially 2.25.
 12. A noisemaker according to claim 1 wherein the pellets are made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, glass, plastic, dry beans and dry peas.
 13. A method of calibrating the decibel level of an inflatable noisemaker comprising the steps of: providing a flexible envelope; providing a multiplicity of pellets contained within the envelope; freeing the pellets to rebound and reverberate in response to an impact on the envelope; constructing the envelope to be grasped manually and to enclose a gas under pressure; and changing the number of pellets to control the maximum noise level. 